A luxurious New York apartment furnished with bullet-proof panic rooms and a sushi island bar is on the market for an eye-watering $48.5 million, reportedly the property of Saudi royalty. The palatial pad, which straddles three floors and has two inbuilt salt-water aquariums, offers a tantalizing glimpse into custom-made luxury on offer in New York's cut-throat property market. US media named the owner as Saudi Prince Nawaf bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. The Wall Street Journal said the prince was the principal of the corporation listed as the apartment's owner.

Western leaders on Tuesday called for a "strong reaction" from the international community to any major violation of a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine as they sought to further pressure Russia over the conflict. The leaders of the United States, Germany, France, Britain and Italy plus EU head Donald Tusk also argued for strengthening a mission charged with monitoring the ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons. "They agreed that a strong reaction from the international community would be necessary in the case of a major violation in the implementation" of the deal signed in the Belarus capital Minsk, a statement said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi politely stood and clapped when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered the House chamber for his long-awaited, and highly controversial, speech to Congress. The longer he spoke, the less enthusiastic she got.